Diaphragm assembly



March 24, 1953 A. ELO

DIAPHRAGM ASSEMBLY Filed Jun e 6-, 1946 INVENTOR.

ber I0.

Patented Mar. 24, 1.953

DIAPHRAGM ASSEMBLY -Arpad E10, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to fltcrfex Corporation, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application June 6, 1946, serial Noz-fiflfill -2 Claims. ,(01. ice-ter) The pr sent inv n ion relat s n ra t a diaphragm assembly of novel construction, and.

particularly .to a diaphragm assembly which translates the volumetric expansion of a thermally responsive substance into linear movement of-theJflexible portion of the diaphragm. This resulting linear movement of the diaphragm may bev used to actuate a control device, for instance,

anelectric-switch.

between them without excess solder filling any portion of the chamber occupied by the thermally responsive substance.

A further object of my invention is to provide a diaphragm assembly in which the outer, flexible member is supported by a rigid, inner member having the same general configuration as the flexible outer member.

For a more complete understanding of my invention, reference should be made to the accompanying drawing, in which,

Fig. 1 represents a top view of the diaphragm assembly;

Fig. 2 represents a side view in section taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 represents a bottom view of the rigid, inner member joined to the threaded mounting plug; and

Fig. 4 represents an enlarged, fragmentary view, in section, of the soldered joint between the flexible outer member and rigid, inner member.

With reference to the drawing, the diaphragm assembly consists of a flexible, cup-shaped, outer member Ill and a rigid inner member II, having the same general configuration as the outer mem- The outer member I is shaped so as to form a curved intermediate portion I2 merging with an end wall I3 and an annular side wall I4. Near the curved intermediate portion I2 the inner member II is shaped so as to form projections I5 which serve to maintain a minimum space I6 between the inner and outer members I0 and II.

The inner and outer-members 510 and d al 2MB joined together as .shown :in Fig. 4. "The inner; member :II is :provided with an annular recess I1 facing thel outer member JaII'I. Thefinneriand i outer members In :and H :are joined rbywsolder: asas I8. The annular recess LILserves .'-to.,catch. any excess solder :from the soldered joint all]:

and prevents it from entering the space ,1 I6,

The outer :flexiblemember .110 is :providedrwith radially extendingstifiening =-ribs1'2 8. *Theseprevent "bulging of the end .wall I 3 due to (the :high pressures .within the diaphragm assembl-y, and

cause any .;defle.ction :of :the center mem'ber zI'II it!) 7 take place principally .at the :curred imtermedi ate portion I2.

The rigid inner member II is fastened to a threaded mounting plug 20 at I9. A capillary tube 2| having a bulb 22 is inserted into a tubular opening 23 in the mounting plug 20. The capillary tube 2| is fastened to the mounting plug 20 by solder, as at 26. The cap member 25 has a small opening 24 extending through its center, and a slot 29 in its upper surface. The bulb 22, capillary tube 2I, and space I6 are filled with a thermally responsive fluid preferably of the liquid type. A passage for the thermally responsive fluid from the opening 23 to the space I6 is provided by the small opening 24 in the cap member 25. The slot 29 in the cap member 25 allows this passage to remain open when the center portion 21 of the outer member I0 is restin against the upper surface of the ca member 25.

In operation, an increase in temperature in the region surrounding the bulb 22 results in expansion of the thermally responsive fluid. Since the center portion 21 of the outer member I0 is below the plane formed by the curved intermediate portion I2, initial expansion of the thermally responsive fluid will move the center portion 21 upwardly toward the plane of the curved intermediate portion I2. As this movement takes place the curved intermediate portion I2 flexes outward from its point of juncture with the inner member I I. Further expansion of the thermally responsive fluid results in the center portion 21 being raised above the plane of the curved intermediate portion I2. This causes the curved intermediate portion I2 to flex inward until its movement is stopped by the curved portion of the rigid inner member II. Thus it may be seen that this initial outward flexing and subsequent inward flexing of the curved intermediate portion I2 allows a maximum linear movement of the center portion 21, This outward and inward movement of the curved intermediate portion I2 also put relatively small alternate compression and tension stress on the outer member In in the region of the curved intermediate portion I2 for a given linear movement of the center portion 21, thus increasing the operating life of the diaphragm.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes may be'made in the form of the apparatus disclosed without departin from the spirit of my invention as set forth in the appended claims, and that certain features of my invention may sometimes be used to advantage without a corresponding use of other features.

What is claimed is:

1. A diaphragm assembly comprising, a relatively flexible cup-shaped outer member having a curved intermediate portion merging with an end wall and an annular side wall, a relatively rigid inner member Within the outer member, said inner member having the same general configuration as the outer member and fitting closely therewith so as to limit the space between the members, the annular side wall of the outer member and the relatively rigid inner member being joined together by asoldered joint, said inner member being provided with .an annular recess facing the side wall of the outer member for collecting any solder flowing between said members during the soldering operation.

'2. A diaphragm assembly comprising, a relatively flexible. cup shaped outer member having a curved intermediate portion merging with an end wall and an annular side wall terminating in a free margin, a relatively rigid inner member within the outer member, said inner member having the same configuration as the outer member and fitting closely therewith, the annular side wall of the inner member being shorter than the side wall of the outer member whereby to provide a ledge, the annular side wall of the outer member and the relatively rigid inner member being joined together by means of solder deposited along said ledge, one of said members having a recess adjacent the soldered joint and facing the other member, said recess serving to collect any solder flowing between the members during the solder operation.

ARPAD ELO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,439,750 Nelson Dec. 26, 1922 1,527,102 Wingfield Feb. 17, 1925 1,793,621 Kelley Feb. 24, 1931 1,921,312 Eichholz Aug, 8, 1933 2,137,617 Imes NOV. 22, 1938 2,150,771 Kollsman Mar. 14, 1939 2,177,674 Schweizer Oct. 31, 1939 2,203,841 Persons June 11, 1940 2,296,435 Giard Sept. 22, 1942 2,331,464 Fillo Oct. 12, 1943 2,435,716 Kearney Feb. 10, 1948 

